KEMAH — The standoff between the Kemah Volunteer Fire Department and Water Control and Improvement District No. 12 may be coming to an end, fire department sources said.
Kemah Fire Chief John O’Neil said the department approved a contract Thursday that they believe the water board will support.
The one-year contract establishes a nine-member emergency services board that will serve as the board of directors for the fire department. The board will consist of two members from the fire department, one of which will be O’Neil, as well as two water board members and five residents from Kemah, Clear Lake Shores and Lazy Bend.
O’Neil said the emergency services board would be given the task of hiring a full-time paid fire chief, which the water district wanted and the volunteer fire department has agreed to in the new proposed contract.
The dispute included the water district board cutting off funding to the fire department in September. It also voted that month to lower resident’s fire protection assessments from $4 to 10 cents. The dispute began over the question of who would control the department’s equipment.
Under the new contract, the water district will have full ownership of all fire equipment, O’Neil said.
“It’s a lot of change in a short period of time,” O’Neil said. “There will be some kinks that will have to be worked out, but I hope in the long run it will benefit all parties involved. The issue is now closed. Hopefully everyone will move forward with a positive attitude.”
Water board President Matthew Wiggins was unavailable for comment.
